Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday for fabricating an official document in an attempt to justify his 2024 martial law declaration and illegally using his bodyguards, according to the New York Times. The Seoul Central District Court's three-judge panel delivered the sentence, marking the first ruling in eight separate court trials stemming from the controversial martial law declaration.

The court found Yoon guilty of obstructing justice by preventing his arrest and abusing his power by excluding cabinet members from a key meeting, as reported by the New York Times. The charges relate to Yoon's attempt to impose martial law in late 2024.

Yoon still faces separate charges, including insurrection, with a verdict expected on February 19, according to the New York Times. Prosecutors have sought the death penalty in that case.

The ruling on Friday specifically addressed the charge of fabricating an official document. The judges convicted Yoon of obstructing justice, according to the New York Times.

The case stems from Yoon's short-lived imposition of martial law in late 2024, an action that triggered multiple investigations and legal challenges, according to the New York Times. The sentence is the first of several trials related to the declaration.